Adrian Fletcher watched Jac Naylor as she lay sleeping next to him. The soft glow of the bedside lamp highlighted her pale skin and fiery red hair. Her body was still entangled with his, the fingers of her hand entwined tightly around his. He never thought he would feel this way about Jac Naylor and yet he did. He cared for her, he wanted to be with her all the time. It was at the point where secret kisses and late night phone calls were no longer enough. He needed her in his life.
Tonight had been their first official date. Lunch alone together in her office or drinks after work didn't count according to Jac. When he'd mentioned his children were staying with their grandparents for a few days Jac had spoken 'So where are you taking me then?'
'Huh?' he'd looked up from the patient files he was sorting.
'You promised me a proper date remember?' Jac had nudged him playfully 'the next time we were both child free?'
'So I did' Fletch smiled at her. 'So what would it take to impress Jac Naylor? Fine dining and champagne or a something less cliché?'
'Surprise me' Jac had looked around quickly to make sure they were alone before planting a quick kiss on his lips.
Surprised she had been when he had turned up on her doorstep with a picnic hamper and a couple of blankets. 'We're going to the park' he'd announced joyously.
'In the dark, in February?' she'd frowned at him.
'Outdoor cinema event' Fletch had grinned. 'Dress warmly.'
The film had been Breakfast at Tiffany's, a classic. Complaining of cold Jac had cuddled up to him as they sat wrapped together in a blanket. Halfway through the movie Fletch realised with a jolt that he hadn't thought of Raf or the shooting for some time. His mind instead had been focused on Jac; the way she smiled, how her nose wrinkled slightly when she laughed, the smell of her hair and the feeling of her hand in his. He walked her home after the movie and kissed her goodnight outside her building.
'There's no need to be such a gentleman Fletch' she had smiled coyly at him. 'We both know you're coming in to have sex.'
It had been tender and tactile. Different but far better from what Fletch had imagined sex with Jac Naylor would have been like. He had wanted to whisper 'I love you' in her ear but had resisted. It was too soon. Instead he had settled on 'you're so beautiful' which was also very true and had seemed to please her. They had lain together for a long time afterwards, occasionally breaking the silence to kiss or speak about their favourite parts of the movie. Of course it transpired Jac had read the book and she complained about the ending being different. 'Surely making the ending happier is a good thing?' Fletch had chuckled. Jac had shook her head 'its less real that way, you need to read the book then you'll see what I mean.' So he promised her he would and was surprised to find he meant it. Eventually Jac had fallen asleep and Fletch found himself unable to take his eyes off her. Of course this thing between them, whatever it was, could end extremely messily. Or it could be something good and happy. Fletch found himself hoping Jac wanted to explore it with him, to see where it went. It was hard gage exactly what she was thinking at times, she didn't always say much. But every so often Fletch with catch a look in her eyes that told him all he needed to know.
Her eyelids fluttered open and she smiled at him. 'Hi.'
'Hello, sleeping beauty' Fletch pressed his lips against her forehead.
'I'm guessing you want your hand back' Jac untangled her fingers from his. 'Sorry, that can't have been comfortable.'
'I'm surprisingly very comfortable with you' Fletch chuckled as he flexed his fingers to release the pins and needles feeling.
'If you'd told me six months ago that this was going to happen I would have laughed in your face' Jac kissed him. She smiled as the kissed ended 'its funny how things turn out sometimes isn't it?'
'I'm glad it is happening' Fletch smoothed back her hair and let his hand trail over her shoulder and down the smooth skin of her back, his fingers gently brushing against the raised scar tissue on her side. She flinched and jerked away from him a little.
'I'm sorry, is it sore?' concern filled his eyes.
She shook her head 'its just grotesque, I don't like to touch it.'
'Its not that bad' Fletch tried to reassure her.
'Isn't it?' she questioned with a raised eyebrow.
'Wait, you haven't properly looked at it have you?' Fletch frowned seriously
'I don't need to look at it, I can feel how big it is' Jac rolled her eyes. 'Its not a big deal.'
'It is, if its affecting your self confidence' Fletch spoke softly as he affectionately stroked her hair.
'There's nothing wrong with my self confidence' Jac spoke defensively
'You called it grotesque' Fletch spoke more firmly 'you need to look at it.'
'Fine, if only to shut you up!' Jac huffed, moving off the bed and wrapping the sheet around herself.
'Hey!' Fletch covered over his manhood with his hands as the sheet was pulled away from him. 'Don't worry yourself about my modesty will you!'
'You weren't that bothered about it a couple of hours ago' Jac smirked as she shuffled her way over the long mirror on the wardrobe door.
Fletch chuckled at her quip as he located his boxer shorts on the floor by the bed and put them on. When looked up again he could see Jac stood still in front of the mirror, the sheet still covering her body. He could tell from her face a furious internal battle was going on inside her head. Fletch walked over to her and put his arms around her. 'Its okay to be scared' he spoke before gently kissing her exposed shoulder.
'I not scared' she spat out as a reflex
'Its just you and me remember.' He looked at her reflection in the mirror. 'No one here to judge you.'
She looked at his face, at the loving concern that sat there. 'It makes me feel ugly. I know that it is stupid and I shouldn't care. But I hate that I have been marked by it, that I will always have this reminder of that day.' A single tear fell down her cheek and it surprised her that she wasn't ashamed to let Fletch see it.
'Whatever is in your head, I promise you the real scar won't look as bad' Fletch spoke softly as he wiped away her tear with his thumb. 'Why don't I look and I can describe it to you? Then you can decide if you want to see it.' Jac nodded her head and closed her eyes. She leaned against him slightly as Fletch swept her hair off to one side. She let her fingers relax on the grip she held on the sheet, allowing him to pull it away, just enough to see the scar on her side. 'Huh. Well it looks a lot better than the last time I saw it being stitched back together by Frieda' he joked.
Jac let out a single laugh before demanding 'be serious Adrian. How bad is it?'
'Its big but then you know that already' Fletch spoke honestly. 'Its pink and raised but it will flatten and fade a little in time. You will have this scar for ever Jac, but I'm glad you have it, because without it you wouldn't be here and you so deserve to be here for Emma. It doesn't make you ugly, you could never be ugly to me.'
Jac slowly opened her eyes and looked at her scar properly for the first time. Fletch had been right. It certainly couldn't be described as pretty but it wasn't anywhere near as bad as she'd built it up to be in her own head. She caught Fletch's eye in the reflection of the mirror and smiled as butterflies filled her stomach.
'See, you're still just as beautiful' he gently kissed her neck.
'Adrian?'
'Hmm?'
'What do you really feel about me?'
'Honestly?' he looked up, to look her in the eye. When she nodded he smiled. 'I feel like I'm in love with you. When you smile those tiny secret smiles just for me or call me Adrian I get butterflies.'
'Is it crazy that I miss you when we're not at work together?' Jac let out a laugh at her own admission.
'No' Fletch chuckled. 'This thing that we're feeling is a beautiful thing. I think we should just go with it, don't you?'
Jac nodded her head before deciding to be honest once more. 'Can you stay here with me? For the weekend?'
'I wouldn't want to be anywhere else' he reassured her. He held her close to him as she studied her scar again. She had no idea how much strength her own bravery gave him. It was part of what he very much loved about her. 'I love you Jac Naylor' he spoke softly and confidently.
Jac stood still for moment digesting his words. To be hesitant now would be foolish, he already knew so much about her and he was still here. Clearly he did not scare easily. 'I love you too Adrian Fletcher' she spoke clearly. As she spoke the words aloud she felt a weight lift off her. She did love him and he loved her. That was all that mattered.